Ryro Posted March 11 · Supporter Share Posted March 11 Heads up; this is NOT about the Novus Homo, or New man, 7 time council, Rome's greatest and most innovative general (to that point), uncle of Julius Caesar, teacher turned nemesis of Sulla, and all around badass who turned the Republic on its head, Gauis Marius. (Sorry, you WON'T be reading about this all around stud, who invented Marius' mules- this innovator was the first to create a standing army, loyal to their general, for Rome!) ...Ours is the barely known by history, Gallic blacksmith, who walked ass backwards into the purple, known as Marcus Aurelius Marius. He was supposedly only "in office" for two or three days. Though, more likely two or three months, due to the amount of coins he was able to produce (not that there's a lot) and fact that he had time to relocate to Trier before Victorinus had him cut down. He was, also supposedly, killed by one of the swords that he himself made! Not much else is known about him other than how he came to power; After Postumus was murdered by his own troops at Moguntiacum, for apparently not letting them loot and pillage, Marius (possibly accidently), an officer, was proclaimed emperor!? Which brings me to my new coin. Despite the lettering going off flan I am very happy with the portrait (very Postumus-esque) and crisp reverse: Marius. Antoninianus. 269 AD. Trier. (Ric-V 2.7 Ticinum). Anv.: IMP C MARIVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust to right. Rev.: CONCORDIA MILITVM, clasped hands. Ae. 2,75 g. Almost VF/VF. Purchased from Tauler & Fau Modern update: here's a reconstruction of his appearance from the sources descriptions of him: And then: Some of the other Gallic emperors: Postumus Areolus (supposedly under Postumus) Victorinus Tetricus l Tetricus ll You know you've got Gallic emperors to share, Marius, short lived emperors. And we'd like to see them or anything you'd like. 19 1 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted March 11 · Member Share Posted March 11 Cool! Congratulations! I have no coins of Marius. My only Gallic coin of note is this Sestertius. I just love the portrait. 14 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted March 11 · Supporter Author Share Posted March 11 3 minutes ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said: Cool! Congratulations! I have no coins of Marius. My only Gallic coin of note is this Sestertius. I just love the portrait. Thanks! And that portrait is intense!! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted March 11 · Member Share Posted March 11 Dagnabbit, now you made me want to get a coin of Marius. Perhaps I'll get one next order... Oh, and I also enjoyed the artistic rendering of his demise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted March 11 · Supporter Share Posted March 11 oh man Ryro..too kool 4 skool Bro!...i'm lQQking them now for i need one of him also...here's a group shot of those i have 🙂 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted March 11 · Patron Share Posted March 11 (edited) Coingratulations, @Ryro!! Entertaining and educational write-up, too! I don't have a Marius. Nor a Laelianus. But I do have Postumus, Victorinus, and Tetricus I and II. Edited March 11 by Roman Collector 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Julius Posted March 11 · Member Share Posted March 11 Great coin! I don’t have a Marius yet and am jello. Oh… and WHAT is up with that RED Victorinus?! Is it really that color in hand?! If so, very cool color! Not to side track the thread but this is my reddest coin: …and here is my closest to Marius coin… a Victorinus with the features of Marius: 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maridvnvm Posted March 11 · Member Share Posted March 11 I seem to have acquired more than my fair share of Marius coins..... Obv:– IMP C MARIVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– CONCORD MILIT, Clasped hands. Minted in Cologne Reference– RIC 6; Hunter 3; Schulzki 1b; Elmer 633. Found in Poundbury, Dorset in 1986 3.41 g. 19.99 mm. 180 degrees Obv:– IMP C M AVR MARIVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– VICTO[RI]A AVG, Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm frond. Minted in Trier Reference– RIC 17. Schulzki 7b, Elmer 638, Cunetio 2509 Found in Poundbury, Dorset in 1986 2.30 g. 20.74 mm. 0 degrees Uneven strike 2.78 g. 21.35 mm. 0 degrees Obv:– IMP C M AVR MARIVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– VICTORIA AVG, Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm. Minted in Cologne Reference– RIC 18. C. 20. Elmer 636. AGK 6 a. Lots of silvering. Worn reverse die. Found in Poundbury, Dorset in 1986 2.62 g. 21.13 mm. 180 degrees 2.85 g. 20.33 mm. 180 degrees 2.84 g. 19.70 mm. 0 degrees 10 1 1 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted March 11 · Member Share Posted March 11 And 2 or more seem to have silvering. Nice!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted March 11 · Supporter Share Posted March 11 I have only one worn example: Marius Antoninianus Obv.: IMP C M AVR MARIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev.: VICTORIA AVG, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm 2.38 g, 21 mm Ref.: RIC 17 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted March 11 · Supporter Author Share Posted March 11 Thanks for sharing your Gallic emperors and coins of the little known blacksmith! 2 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted Wednesday at 02:28 AM · Supporter Share Posted Wednesday at 02:28 AM On 3/10/2023 at 8:56 PM, Orange Julius said: and here is my closest to Marius coin ><...i hear ya ...^^ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted Wednesday at 09:18 AM · Supporter Share Posted Wednesday at 09:18 AM @Ryro...That's a great looking coin!..Nice portrait and really cool reverse...Congrats on a neat addition to your collection!...Didn't know you had such an artistic gift😉. My only Marius... MARIUS. Romano-Gallic Emperor, 269 AD. Obverse..IMP CM AVR MARIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Reverse..VICTORIA AVG, Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm. RIC#17...Mint Trier? And my only other Gallic Emperor.. Postumus, Antoninianus, 260-269, Trier, , Billon 21MM Obverse- Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG Reverse- Serapis standing left, raising hand & holding sceptre; prow at his feet to left SERAPI COMITI AVG RIC-329 Trier mint (AD 267) 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted Wednesday at 09:14 PM · Supporter Share Posted Wednesday at 09:14 PM Just one purple-ish example Marius, Antoninianus - Mint #2 : Köln or Mainz MP C M AVR MARIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right VICT - ORIA AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm 3,2 gr Ref : RIC # 17, RCV # 11124, Cohen # 21 (20Fr), Schulzki 7a Q 6 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry G Posted Wednesday at 11:23 PM · Member Share Posted Wednesday at 11:23 PM (edited) Here's my set! Laelianus Marius Postumus Postumus (Aureolus) Edited Wednesday at 11:23 PM by Harry G 7 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry G Posted Wednesday at 11:26 PM · Member Share Posted Wednesday at 11:26 PM Tetricus I (sic on reverse on this coin: PVAX) Tetricus II 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victrix Posted Thursday at 10:28 PM · Member Share Posted Thursday at 10:28 PM Good write-up! I recently got back into gallic empire coins and picked up a Marius. It's still in 'as found' condition but in person some of the silvering is still visible and quite like the look of it uncleaned. 5 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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